After failing to be picked in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday night, Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o didn't wait long to hear his name on Friday. The San Diego Chargers selected the former Irish star with the sixth pick in second round (38th overall), trading up seven spots to get him.

Unlike West Virginia QB Geno Smith, who had to endure a free fall out of the first round under the bright lights of the green room in New York City, Te'o, the most scrutinized pick in this year's draft, opted to stay home in Hawaii and wait for his name to be called.

Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o was taken by the San Diego Chargers in the second round. (AP Photo)

Te'o's draft stock started tumbling after a disappointing outing against Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game, followed by the entire Lennay Kekua fake girlfriend story that revealed the former Irish star was duped by an online hoaxster.

He got further dinged after running a 4.82 40-yard dash at the Scouting Combine (even LeBron James chimed in, saying he could run a faster 40), though Te'o regrouped and shaved .11 seconds off of his mark during his pro day.

Says Eric Galko of Sporting News content partner Optimum Scouting: "Te'o has great football IQ, in the class of Patrick Willis and Luke Kuechly, and he's able to adjust and redirect well enough to make plays in coverage and against the run because of it. But he lacks great range, struggles to adjust off of man-blocking guards and doesn't regain his balance well on the interior against downhill blockers. He'll likely need a 3-4 defense to have NFL success, and even then he's no lock to be a three-down player."

Te’o is projected to start inside in the Chargers' 3-4 defense, playing alongside Donald Butler and eventually assuming control of the middle of this defense. After getting a top offensive lineman in round one, this new regime got their (hopeful) defensive leader in the second round.

Te'o was expected to go in the first round to the Chicago Bears or Minnesota Vikings, but both teams passed on the highly discussed linebacker.